Genome-Wide Characterization of Chrysanthemum indicum Nuclear Factor Y, Subunit C Gene Family Reveals the Roles of CiNF-YCs in Flowering Regulation.

Nuclear Factor Y, Subunit C (NF-YC) transcription factors are conserved in most plants, and play essential roles in plant growth and development, especially in flowering regulation. Chrysanthemums are important commercial plants, and their market value is strongly impacted by flowering time. Until now, no details regarding the NF-YC family in the Chrysanthemum genus have been available. In this study, five NF-YC genes were cloned from Chrysanthemum indicum. Multiple alignments showed that CiNF-YCs had the highly conserved characteristic regions. Phylogenetic analyses identified a pair of paralogue NF-YC proteins in chrysanthemums. Gene structure and conserved motifs were also analyzed for functional understanding. According to the results of the expression experiments, CiNF-YC1 and CiNF-YC5 were mainly expressed in leaves or flowers, and their expression levels varied greatly from the seedling to flower bud differentiation stage. Arabidopsis overexpressing CiNF-YC1 and CiNF-YC3 showed significantly delayed flowering, accompanied by other morphological alterations. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that genes associated with photoperiod, vernalization, aging, and gibberellin pathways were downregulated in CiNF-YC1-OX lines, relative to the wild type, whereas in CiNF-YC3-OX lines, only SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (AtSVP), the key factor in the ambient temperature pathway, was upregulated. Taken together, these findings suggest that CiNF-YC1 and CiNF-YC3 negatively regulate flowering in Arabidopsis via different flowering pathways.

Cementless total hip arthroplasty for treatment of acetabular protrusion secondary to rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: To explore the surgical technique and clinical outcomes of cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) combined with impacted bone grafting for the treatment of moderate and severe acetabular protrusion with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: From January 2010 to October 2020, 45 patients (56 hips), including 17 men (22 hips) and 28 women (34 hips) with acetabular impingement secondary to RA, were treated with bioprosthetic THA combined with autologous bone grafting at our hospital. According to the Sotello-Garza and Charnley classification criteria, there were 40 cases (49 hips) of type II (protrusio acetabuli 6-15 mm) and 5 cases (7 hips) of type III (protrusio acetabuli > 15 mm). At the postoperative follow-up, the ROM of the hip joint, the VAS score, and the Harris score were evaluated. The healing of the bone graft, the restoration of the hip rotation center, and the prosthesis loosening were assessed by plain anteroposterior radiographs. RESULTS: The average operation time was 95.53 ± 22.45 min, and the mean blood loss was 156.16 ± 69.25 mL. There were no neurovascular complications during the operation. The mean follow-up duration was 5.20 ± 1.20 years. The horizontal distance of the hip rotation center increased from preoperative 10.40 ± 2.50 mm to postoperative 24.03 ± 1.77 mm, and the vertical distance increased from preoperative 72.36 ± 3.10 mm to postoperative 92.48 ± 5.31 mm. The range of flexion motion of the hip joint increased from 39.48 ± 8.36° preoperatively to 103.07 ± 7.64° postoperatively, and the range of abduction motion increased from 10.86 ± 4.34° preoperatively to 36.75 ± 3.99° postoperatively. At the last follow-up, the Harris score increased from 37.84 ± 4.74 to 89.55 ± 4.05. All patients were able to move independently without assistance. CONCLUSIONS: Cementless THA combined with impacted grafting granule bone of the autogenous femoral head and biological acetabular cup can reconstruct the acetabulum, restore the rotation center of the hip joint, and achieve good medium-term outcomes in the treatment of moderate to severe acetabular herniation secondary to RA.

Malignant transformation of an aneurysmal bone cyst of the femoral neck: A case report.

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a benign, distending, osteolytic and locally aggressive bone tumor that is mostly associated with trauma. Approximately 1% of bone tumors are ABCs, which are most prevalent in adolescents and are usually detected in the spine and long tubular bones. The diagnosis of ABC mainly relies on histopathology, malignant transformation is rare, and the chance of malignancy increases if there are multiple recurrences. Due to the rarity of reports of malignant transformation of ABCs into osteosarcoma, there is still considerable debate on the appropriate treatment strategy. The current paper presents a case of aneurysmal bone cyst malignant to osteosarcoma and the therapeutic measures to provide expertise for the diagnosis and treatment of ABCs that are malignant to osteosarcoma.

In vitro drug release and antibacterial activity evaluation of silk fibroin coated vancomycin hydrochloride loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) sustained release microspheres.

Currently, the treatment of osteomyelitis poses a great challenge to clinical orthopedics. The use of biodegradable materials combined with antibiotics provides a completely new option for the treatment of osteomyelitis. In this study, vancomycin hydrochloride (VANCO) loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres were prepared by a double emulsion solvent evaporation method, and the in vitro drug release behaviors of the drug loaded microspheres were explored after coating with different concentrations of silk fibroin (SF). Drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, Scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, hydrophilicity, in vitro drug release, and in vitro antibacterial activity were evaluated. The results showed that the drug loading of vancomycin loaded PLGA microspheres was (24.11 ±1.72)%, and the encapsulation efficiency was (48.21 ±3.44)%. The in vitro drug release indicated that the drug loaded microspheres showed an obvious initial burst release, and the drug loaded microspheres coated with SF could alleviate the initial burst release in varying degrees. It also can reduce the amount of cumulative drug release, and the effect of microspheres coated with 0.1% concentration of SF is the best. The time of in vitro drug release in different groups of drug loaded microspheres can be up to 28 days. The microspheres coated with (0.1%SF) or without (0%SF) SF showed a cumulative release of (82.50±3.51)% and (67.70±3.81)%,respectively. Therefore, the surface coating with SF of vancomycin loaded microspheres can alleviate the initial burst release, reduce the cumulative drug release, potentially prolong the drug action time, and improve the anti-infection effect.

Scedosporium apiospermum infection of the lumbar vertebrae: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Scedosporium apiospermum (S. apiospermum) is a clinically rare and aggressive fungus mainly found in contaminated water, wetlands, decaying plants, stagnant water, and potted plants in hospitals. The lung, bone, joint, eye, brain, skin, and other sites are easily infected, and there is a marked risk of misdiagnosis. There have been few case reports of infection by S. apiospermum of the lumbar vertebrae; most reports have focused on infection of the lung. CASE SUMMARY: An otherwise healthy 60-year-old man presented with a 4-mo history of lumbosacral pain, stooping, and limited walking. The symptoms were significantly aggravated 10 d prior to hospitalization, and radiating pain in the back of his left lower leg developed, which was so severe that he could not walk. Movement of the lumbar spine was significantly limited, anterior flexion was about 30°; backward extension, right and left lateral curvature, and rotational mobility were about 10°; tenderness of the spinous processes of the lumbar 3-5 vertebrae was evident, and the muscle strength of both lower limbs was grade IV. Imaging suggested bony destruction of the lumbar 3, 4, and 5 vertebrae and sacral 1 vertebra; in addition, the corresponding intervertebral spaces were narrowed and the lumbar 5 vertebra was posteriorly displaced and unstable. Lumbar vertebral infection was also noted, and the possibility of lumbar tuberculosis was considered. We first performed surgical intervention on the lesioned lumbar vertebrae, cleared the infected lesion, and performed stable fixation of the lesioned vertebral body using a lumbar internal fixation device, which restored the stability of the lumbar vertebrae. Cytological and pathological examination of the lesioned tissue removed during surgery confirmed S. apiospermum infection of the lumbar vertebrae; on this basis, the patient was administered voriconazole. At the 6-mo follow-up, efficacy was significant, no drug-related side effects were observed, and imaging examination showed no evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSION: S. apiospermum infection can occur in immunocompetent individuals with no history of near drowning. Voriconazole is effective for the treatment of S. apiospermum infection of the lumbar vertebrae for which it is suitable as the first-line therapy.